ADA, Ohio -- The Heidelberg University softball team capped off the 2023 season with a feel-good sweep of Ohio Northern University on Saturday.  The Berg rallied in the seventh for a 4-1 win in the opener, then took the nightcap in eight innings, 5-4.  

Heidelberg closed the season at 17-22 overall, 7-11 in the OAC.  Of their 22 losses, the Student Princes had the tying run at the plate in 13 of them.  

On the day, Jessica Voitko and Ellie Tressler led Heidelberg with three hits apiece.

GAME ONE: BERG 4-7-1   ONU 1-7-1

Strong starts from HU's Jessica Voitko and ONU's Aliie Bican kept both teams scoreless into the bottom of sixth.  There, Sydney Motylinski put the Polar Bears ahead with a solo home run to center.  

Down to their final three outs, the Student Princes fought back.  Voitko started the rally with a single through the left side.  Caitlynn Newlen moved pinch runner Morgan Woycitzky to second with a sacrifice bunt.  Down to their final out after a pop out, Hanna Blasinsky extended the game with a single to left.  Meghan Bame was plunked to load the bases.  Freshman Ellie Tressler came through with a go-ahead, two-run single to right center.  After a walk to Gabbie Stallbaum, Murissa Drown delivered another two-run base hit to right center -- driving in two insurance runs.  

Ohio Northern brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom, but Payton Scheid got the final two outs to pick up her first save of the season.  

GAME TWO:  BERG 5-8-3   ONU 4-9-3  (8 inn.)

After allowing two unearned runs in the bottom of the first, Heidelberg went to work in the top of the second.  Stallbaum opened with a double to left and advanced to third when Drown reached on an error.  Voitko reached on a fielder's choice, which loaded the bases.  Logyn Chamberlin delivered a two-out, two-run single that tied the game.  Blasinsky reached on a throwing error that allowed two more runs to score.  Heidelberg led 4-2.  

Ohio Northern tied the game in the fourth and the score remained knotted at four until the eighth.  

Voitko hit a one-out single through the left side and gave way to the speedy Woycitzky.  Haile Monhollen sacrificed Woycitzky to second for the second out.  Jade Torres drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single up the middle that bounced over the pitcher.  Torres beat the throw to first by a fraction of a second while Woycitzky raced home.  

Scheid (3-3) worked around a one-out single and sealed the sweep.  Scheid threw three scoreless innings in the nightcap, picking up the win in relief.  Caitlin Dems threw five innings and didn't allow an earned run.